The House of Middlescence with Barbara Brooks

Managing Holiday Stress Solo After 40: Your Ultimate Guide

The holidays hit differently when you live solo after 40. Some women feel relief. Others feel pressure from family, traditions, or the world’s obsession with “coupling.” And for many, there is a mix of loneliness, stress, and “I should feel happier than this, it’s the holidays.” In this fireside, I sit down with licensed therapist Sarah Senst to unpack the mental and emotional load of the season. We get into why the holidays can be a trigger, why single women (especially if you’re over 40) feel judged, how family expectations create pressure, and what to do when your mood drops instead of lifting, no matter how many Hallmark movies you watch. Find Sarah Senst at sarahsenst.com TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Holiday pressure and being single during Hallmark season 02:16 Welcome to the House of Middlelescence and why this topic matters 03:58 Prime example Christmas morning brunch with yourself 06:11 The bigger picture kinless grief and holiday stress stats 11:29 Meet Sarah Sense solo ager therapist and her reinvention story 13:36 Why the holidays trigger emotions and how joy and sadness can coexist 17:00 Boundaries with family micro boundaries and estrangement talk 20:36 The myth that being partnered fixes the holidays 23:39 Therapist toolkit boundaries mindset shifts and holiday minimums 26:53 When it is more than the holiday blues and where to get help 34:37 Powerful practices new traditions and the letter from your older self 36:43 Holiday hot seat spending it alone and handling why are you still single 39:30 Closing return on experience tip and final remix sendoff Get on my Living Agefully monthly newsletter at secondactwomen.com 📢 Find me on socials: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExSXp2Unl3bFZWblFvVE16bgEeO2un2U-soDO2s_te5yMri0Yc6Ih-Vv-A710nRsUE9Spb8G3f96KD-uc3SHU_aem_OyWKrwmZZWG0Che7JCIsNg] https:/.linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks https://instagram.com/barbarabrooksspeakshttps://www.facebook.com/barbarabrooksspeakshttps:/youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks 👉🏽 Find My Community of Women 40+ on socialshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/secondactwomenhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/secondactwomen/https://www.instagram.com/secondactwomen

Caregver Crisis Today. the Reality, Resources & Tools to Get Ahead of Game

The Caregiver Crisis is real and hitting women 50+ with force. I sit down with Nadine Cornish and Sarah Scheuneman of #AARP Colorado to talk about the realities of caregiving, the emotional and financial strain, the missing conversations inside families, and the practical steps that every woman needs to take now. They cover state resources, AARP support, power of attorney basics, the next of kin box, and why planning is the strongest form of self care in midlife. A smart, honest conversation for anyone juggling work, life, and the growing responsibility of caring for loved ones. QUICK LINKS: The Nokbox: https://share.google/zI1V0SUyDQP8QGl3x [https://share.google/zI1V0SUyDQP8QGl3x] Caregiving Guide: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/prepare-to-care-planning-guide/ [https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/prepare-to-care-planning-guide/] FAMLI: https://famli.colorado.gov/individuals-and-families/self-employed-workers [https://famli.colorado.gov/individuals-and-families/self-employed-workers] TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome to the House of Middlescence 02:15 Why caregiving is hitting women fifty plus the hardest 08:20 The emotional load no one prepares us for 15:12 How caregiving affects careers, money, and our own health 22:48 Nadine on legal and paperwork must-haves 1:05 Sarah on navigating state resources and real support 40:14 Barbara’s story about care, planning, and what she learned 47:10 AARP resources you should actually use 47:50 Why your next of kin box matters 48:28 Closing conversation with Nadine and Sarah 48:47 Sign off and what is coming next week =================================== Get in touch with me at barbara@bloomcopresents.com or learn how you can book me to speak at https://www.barbarabrooks.com. [https://www.barbarabrooks.com.] 📧 Get on my Aging Out Loud monthly newsletter at secondactwomen.com 📢 Find me on socials: https:/.linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks/ https://instagram.com/barbarabrooksspeaks https://www.facebook.com/barbarabrooksspeaks/ https:/youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks/ 👉🏽 Find My Community of Women 40+ on socials https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondactwomen https://www.linkedin.com/company/secondactwomen/ https://www.instagram.com/secondactwomen

Women 40+ Solopreneur Loneliness: Real Talk from the Middle

In this candid session we explore what it really means to be a solopreneur in midlife, especially when the usual boxes no longer fit. We talk about the isolation that can follow leaving corporate life, what it means to carve your own path after 40, and how loneliness can become a turning point instead of a setback. With women over 40 now leading the charge as the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs nearly half of all new women-owned businesses are started by women over 45 this episode is a reminder that even when you’re building alone, you’re not the only one feeling it. Find Tasha Jones at www.linkedin.com/in/tasha-jones/ [http://www.linkedin.com/in/tasha-jones/]  What you’ll walk away with: ✅ Recognizing the loneliness phase you might be in and why it matters ✅ A new perspective on midlife business as strength, not deficit ✅ Simple ways to find community, redefine support, and step into your rightful space If you’re ready to stop playing small, own your story, and build with purpose in your 40s and beyond, this episode is for you. Visit SecondActWomen.com to download The Midlife Power Plan and join the community for more age inclusive conversations.

6‑Month Reset: How to Finish 2025 Strong

We’re in the middle of the year, and it’s the perfect time to pause, reset, and design the next six months with intention. In this episode of The House of Middlescence, I share three power moves to help you revise your goals, celebrate your wins, and create a bold new vision for how you want to finish 2025. Download the Six‑Month Vision Reset Worksheet here: https://bit.ly/45uQxZp [https://bit.ly/45uQxZp] Comment below: What’s your one big “back‑to‑school” goal before December 31?

Where Are the Men? Dating at 50 When You’re Solo, Curious

Yeah, dating in midlife is very much a thing, and I’m living proof and getting real about what it’s like to date as a solo-ager at 58, what the dating landscape really looks like today, and where the heck we’re supposed to meet our humans. From the app gap to curated connection spaces (and a few “no thanks” gym moments), I’m not holding back. This one’s for the women, the solo-agers, the late bloomers, and anyone ready to say: “It’s our time.” Because it is. Let’s talk about finding love in the second (or third) act, with intention, humor, and high standards. Find me on YouTube too! My channel is for women who know life doesn’t come with an expiration date. Around here, we’re flipping the script on aging, career pivots, and what it means to live fully in your prime. If you’re ready to mix life in the middle with a little fun, a little grit, and a whole lot of real talk, you’re in the right place. We’re Aging Out Loud, and the best chapters are still ahead. Get in touch with me at barbara@bloomcopresents.com or learn how you can book me to speak at https://www.barbarabrooks.com. [https://www.barbarabrooks.com.] 📧 Get on my Aging Out Loud monthly newsletter here lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/0VxszrI/getonthelist 📢 Find me on socials: https:/linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks  https://instagram.com/heybarbarabrooks [https://instagram.com/heybarbarabrooks] https:/youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks  👉🏽 Find My Community for Women 40+ SecondAct|Women on socials https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondactwomen https://www.linkedin.com/company/secondactwomen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/secondactwomen/] https://www.instagram.com/secondactwomen